Filing-cabinet



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented July 26, 1892..

H. M. PLAISTED. FILING CABINET.

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H. M. PLAISTED.

FILING CABINET.

No. 479,660. Patented July 26, 1892.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD M. PLAISTED, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

FILING-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,660, dated July 26, 1892.

Application filed June 8, 1892- Serial No. 435|952. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD M. PLAIsTED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in iiling-cabinets The object of my improvements is to provide a compact filing-cabinet of substantially uniform elemental parts, whereby it may be readily manufactured and assembled, and to mount said cabinet to be readily rot-ated and give access to the interior; also, to provide a lock for the doors of said cabinet to lock them simultaneously.

To this end my improvements have reference to a series of vertical partitions, each partition abutting on the previous adjacent one and forming an abutment for the succeeding one, a series of horizontal partitions secured to said vertical partitions and inclosing side Walls for said vertical and horizontal partitions, the above three members constituting the body of the cabinet, being substantially the same in size and construction in each set, whereby facility of operation, assembling of the members, and simplicity of construction are attained.

Furthermore, my improvements have reference to mounting said file-cabinet at substantially its center of gravity on a central pivot and to steadying said cabinet in its revolution, and also to alocking device hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, Figurel represents a horizontal sectional view of my filing-cabinet; Fig. 2, a side view of the same, the lower portion being broken away on the line a; of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a partial sectional View of the bottom of the cabinet on the line fy y, Fig. 1, showing the mounting-pivot; Fig. 4, a partial sectional View of the upper portion of the cabinet on the line y y, Fig. l; and Fig. a detail perspective view of a locking device especially adapted for this cabinet and engaged with one door.

In the form of cabinet I have illustrated to embody my invention the quadrilateral and quadruple style is selected. It is adapted, however, to other styles and arrangements on the same principle. Referring to this style, however, the letters A A A A designate, respectively, vertical partitions, each partition abutting at one edge on the previous adjacent one and forming an abutment between its edges for the succeeding adjacent partil'ion, as shown in Fig. l. This presents four similar equal rectangular compartments and a central compartment between the partitions. These outer compartments are divided horizontally by shelves or partitions B, also of substantially uniform dimensions and fitting at one side and end against said vertical partitions, being secured by nails, glue, or otherwise. These partitions are inclosed by side walls C, having hinged portions C', adapted to formv doors for the ends of the compartments inclosed by the main portion C of the adjacent side. These four sides are likewise substantially similar in size and shape. The main portion of the side is substantially or nearly the same in size as the vertical partitions, but preferably laps on the edge ot the abutting partition adjacent to said side, to effect a tight joint and prevent entrance of dust to the compartments. Top and bottom pieces D D complete thex inclosure of the partitions and compartments formed thereby.

The doors C of the cabinet are heldin their closed position by a spring-catch and locking device adapted to lock all the doors simultaneously. On. each door is screwed an eye E or other piece adapted to engage with a spring-catch F, mounted on the inside of the cabinet adjacent thereto. The end of the catch is rounded, so as to be easily engaged and disengaged with a spring-action from the eye on the door, except when locked, as will presently be described. The doors may thus. be maintained in their closed position and readily opened. In order to lock said catch, however, I providek a locking-loop G for each catch, each loop secured to a cruciform frame H, adapted to be moved vertically by means of a lever I, fulcrumed at J, one end of the lever acting on said frame and the other end engaged by the tumbler of a lock K, Fig. 4.. By throwing the tumbler outward the lever IOO will be depressed and the frame elevated, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 4, and the looped pieces G will engage with said catches F to prevent their disengagement from the eyes or projections E over the respective doors. As shown in Fig. 5, thelooped piece G allows the spring-catch F to be depressed to the dotted position when opening or closing the door. lVhen the frame is raised, however, the bottom of the loop engages with the catch and prevents this depression, thereby locking the door. Any form of lock K may be used. The frame I-I is conveniently mounted in the upper part of the cabinet. lt may, however, be mounted immediately adjacent to the eyes or engaging projections on the door, as is indicated by dotted lines at I-I, Fig. 4. In this position the frame may be directly engaged by the projections of the door, and the looped pieces Gr may be dispensed with.

While the cabinet may be fixed in position, it is preferred to mount it rotatably in order to give access conveniently to the pigeonholes or compartments. For this purpose I provide a block L, Fig. 3, at substantially the middle of the cabinet, and a plate M, secured thereto, having a socket for the reception of a pivot-piece O, carried by a post P, dovetailed or otherwise securely fastened to a base Q. The cabinet is thus supported at su bstantially its center of gravity, and, to prevent wabbling, rollers R or other guiding means are provided, as shown in Fig. 2, between the base and the cabinet. The pivot and plate may be reversely mounted, if so desired.

While the doors C', forming portions of the sides C, are shown hinged opposite the abutting partition, they may be otherwise mounted or hinged at the corners, as shown by dotted lines at S, Fig. l.

I do not coniine myself to the exact form and construction herein shown and described, but wish to be understood as laying broad claim to a cabinet and locking mechanism therefor on the principle herein illustrated and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A filing-cabinet composed of a plurality of Vertical partitions arranged about a common center, each partition'abutting at its inner edge against the previous adjacent partition and forming an abutment for the succeeding adjacent partition, horizontal partitions dividing the plurality of similarly-arranged compartments into a series of pigeonholes, and inclosing sides for said partitions, having doors to give access to said pigeonholes.

2. A tiling-cabinet composed of a plurality of uniform vertical partitions symmetrically arranged about a common center, each partition abutting on the previous adjacent one and forming an abutment for the succeeding partition, horizontal partitions secured to said vertical partitions and dividing the compartments into pigeon -holes, substantially as shown and described, inclosing uniform sides for said compartments, having doors to give access thereto, and a locking device to lock said doors simultaneously.

3. A filing-cabinet composed of a plurality of vertical partitions, each Ipartition extending opposite to the previous adjacent one, shelves forming horizontal partitions and secured to said vertical partitions at one side and end, inclosing sides for said partitions, having doors adapted to give access to the pigeon-holes formed thereby, and a locking device to lock said doors simultaneously, co nsisting of a frame operatively connected to each door to retain the door in its closed position normally,a lever fulcrumed in the cabinet and engaging with said frame to move it into locking position,and a lock proper actuating said lever to maintain said doors locked.

4. A filing-cabinet consisting of vertical partitions and horizontal partitions, the vertical partitions being arranged at right angles to each other, whereby the compartments thus formed are likewise at right angles to each other, substantially as shown and described, and inclosing sides, each side having a door giving access to the series of compartments corresponding thereto, and means to lock said doors in their closed position.

5. A filing-cabinet composed of four Vertical partitions extending the length of the cabinet and arranged at right angles to each other in four vertical planes, substantially as shown, a series of horizontal partitions forming shelves and secured to said vertical partitions,

substantially as shown, inclosing sides for said partitions, having doors corresponding thereto, a spring-catch and engaging-piece to maintain said doors normally closed, and a lock proper operatively connected with said catches to maintain the doors in their locked position.

6. A tiling-cabinet composed of vertical and horizontal partitions, the former arranged at right angles to each other and forming a central compartment and a plurality of outer compartments, inclosing sides for Said compartments to constitute pigeon-holes and having doors corresponding thereto, a locking device for said doors, consisting of a framework operatively connected to each door and a lock proper to actuate said framework and secure the doors in their locked position, a pivotallysupporting post mounted in said interior compartment and engaged with the cabinet at substantially the center of gravity thereof, and a base to support said post in its upright position.

7. A filing-cabinet composed of vertical and horizontal partitions, the former being at right angles to each other and secured together to form a central axial compartment and a series of outer compartments vertically over each other, inclosing sides for said cabinet, each side having a door for the vertically-arranged series of compartments, a spring-catch IOO IIO

mounted on each side of said cabinet, and an engaging-piece on each door to engage with the catch opposite thereto, a frame operatively connected to each catch and movable to and from the same, whereby said catches and doors connected therewith are locked in their closed position, and means to effect the movement of said frame, a supporting-piece in the central compartment., having a bearing at substantially the center of gravity of said cabinet, a pivotal standard engaging with said bearing and mounted on a' supporting-base, and means to steady said cabinet in its rotation on said standard above said base.

8. A filing-cabinet composed of vertical and horizontal partitions, the former being at right angles to each other and secured together to form a central axial compartment and a series of outer compartments vertically over each other, inclosing sides for said cabinet, each side having a door for the vertically-arranged series of compartments, a spring-catch mounted on each side of said cabinet, and an engaging-piece on each door to engage with the catch opposite thereto, a frame operatively connected to each catch and movable to and from the same, whereby said catches and doors connected therewith are locked in their closed position, and means to effect the Y movement of said frame.

9. A tiling-case composed of vertical and horizontal partitions forming compartments,

the vertical partitions being at right anglesY to each other and symmetrically arranged about the central axis, inclosing sides for said compartments and doors corresponding thereto, a supporting-standard pivotally engaged with said cabinet at substantially the center of gravity thereof,abase for said standard to maintain the same in its erect position Within 4o the central compartment of the cabinet, and rollers between said base and cabinet and adapted to steady the cabinet in its rotation.

lO. A filing-cabinet composed of vertical and horizontal partitions, the former being raised symmetrically about a common center and of substantially the same dimensions and shape, inclosing sides, top, and bottom for said compartments, each of the sides proper havmg a hinged door for the series of compartments opening on that side of the cabinet,a springcatch and an engaging-piece for each door, adapted to normally maintain the doors 1n their closed position, a frame mounted in said cabinet and. carrying looped pieces engaging with said catches and adapted toprevent the depression of each catch, a lever fulcrumed in said cabinet and engaging with the frame to tighten said looped pieces on said catches, and the lock proper acting on said lever to lock the catches and' doorsV in their closed position;

In testimony whereof Iafx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD M. PLAISTED.

Witnesses:

OLIVER H. MILLER,

FRED B. ERNEST. 

